Wildfires raged on the outskirts of Jerusalem on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of communities and the closure of a main highway as Israel appealed for international assistance.

Wildfires raging near Jerusalem forced evacuations in several areas and led to several major road closures on Wednesday, as firefighters struggle to contain the flames amid dry conditions and high winds.

Israel ’s “largest ever” wildfires are rapidly closing in on Jerusalem, prompting Benjamin Netanyahu to declare a national emergency and the foreign minister to call for international assistance.